20 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Minneapolis, MN Star-Tribune, 12/14/17:

 

 

Committee approves streetcar for W. 7th Riverview Corridor

 

 

More than 60 years after streetcar service in the Twin Cities was discontinued, a key advisory committee has recommended bringing the streetcar back — but in a much-different form.

 

Story is here.   

 

I agree with Sloan's thoughts above....   A streetcar is going to be too slow for a corridor that leads to an airport and a shopping mall.  It will be no quicker than the bus it will probably replace.    Also in this current article, they say that from Fort Snelling to the Mall of America, they intend for the streetcar and Blue Line LRT to share tracks. I don't think there is precedent in that, and if they are operating at different speeds, can they really operationally and safely co-exist??   I know somebody may bring up Cleveland, where LRT and heavy rail run on the same tracks for a while east of downtown.

[KevinKorell]

Pioneer Press, St. Paul, MN, 12/14/17:

 

 

 

Panel approves St. Paul-to-airport streetcar concept, but much more work to come

 

 

A modern streetcar line should someday connect downtown St. Paul to Bloomington, completing a “transit triangle” formed by the Blue Line and Green Line between Minneapolis, St. Paul and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, according to regional policymakers.

 

 

That story

[KevinKorell]

It appears that Streetcar was chosen over light rail --- although interestingly, the streetcar will be able to operate over existing light rail segments in St. Paul and Bloomington.  From Twin Cities Pioneer Press, St. Paul, MN, 6/19/18:

 

 

Ramsey County backs modern streetcar along West 7th. Construction could start by 2028.

 

 

The Ramsey County Board became the fifth and final local government to endorse the proposed Riverview transit corridor — a modern streetcar connecting the downtown St. Paul Union Depot to the Mall of America in Bloomington, primarily along West Seventh Street.

 

 

More

[KevinKorell]

Progressive Railroading, 6/20/18:

 

 

Minnesota's Ramsey County backs St. Paul streetcar line

 

 

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners in Minnesota yesterday endorsed a plan to build a 12-mile streetcar line connecting downtown St. Paul, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and the Mall of America in Bloomington.

 

 

This one

[KevinKorell]

Minneapolis, MN Star-Tribune, 10/29/18:

 

Early plans for streetcar route under Historic Fort Snelling raise concerns

 

 

 

Rising spectacularly on a bluff where the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers meet, Fort Snelling is one of the most important historic sites in the state, and considered sacred ground by American Indians.

 

 

Details

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 11/30/18:
 

Streetcars the preferred choice for Minneapolis-area transit corridor

 

 

A map shows the planned streetcar route in the Riverview Corridor. Photo – Metropolitan Council

The Metropolitan Council is accepting public comments until Jan. 21 on amending the region’s long-range transportation policy plan (TPP) to include a streetcar system as the locally preferred alternative for the Riverview Corridor in Minnesota’s Ramsey and Hennepin counties.

The Riverview Corridor is a 12-mile connection between St. Paul and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the Mall of America and Bloomington’s South Loop district.  .  .  .

 

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

Minnesota Public Radio, 1/9/19:

 

 

Met Council weighs St. Paul to MOA streetcar project

 

 

Plans for a streetcar line on West Seventh Street in St. Paul are inching forward, with the Metropolitan Council expected to vote on the proposal next month.

 

 

Here is the latest.

[KevinKorell]

It's been a few years since I've seen chatter on this streetcar line, but here it is.  An opinion piece in Community Reporter,  10/3/22:

 

 

    Ramsey County’s “Modern Streetcar” really is LRT  

 

 

A recent flyer from Ramsey County now says the West 7th Modern Streetcar is “Planned to be compatible with Green and Blue Lines, so the streetcar can share tracks, power and stations.”  This is an admission that it will be a light rail (LRT) vehicle, which back in 2016 Ramsey County explicitly said should not be on West 7th, because LRT requires its own dedicated guideway.

 

 

Opinion

[KevinKorell]

Streets MN, 11/9/22:
 

 

   Riverview Corridor: Finding a Good Balance Between Light Rail and Streetcar    

 
 
The Riverview Corridor is a proposed streetcar route between the Mall of America and downtown St. Paul via Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. Most of the route will have dedicated right-of-way like our light rail lines, but a certain length will have streetcars sharing the road with general traffic. 

 

 

Read
 

[KevinKorell]

Opinion in Minnesota Post, 3/10/23:

 

 

     Ramsey County should add four east St. Paul streetcar stops to proposed plan     

 

 

The Riverview Corridor Modern Streetcar project is a planned modern streetcar project through the West 7th neighborhood of St. Paul to Bloomington. Ramsey County, where St. Paul is located, is leading the efforts to build the streetcar route. The proposed route will connect downtown St. Paul with the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and the Mall of America in Bloomington.

 

 

Opinion